Drapery apparatus



Nov. 26, 1957 2,814,342

' H. s. RosENBAUM DRAPERY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l A Y i INVENTOR BY KAKA.. L'ocAQS ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1957 H. s. ROSENBAUM' DRAPERY APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1955 Bmx Nov. 26, 1957 H, s, RQSENBAUM 2,814,342

' DRAPERY APPARAL'I'USy Filid Jan. 14, 1955 l. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent DRAPERY APPARATUS Harry S. Rosenbaum, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Eastern Venetian Blind Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application January 14, 1955, Serial No. 481,828

12 Claims. (Cl. 160-345) The present invention relates to drapery apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a master slide carrier construction for use in a drapery fixture.

Prior to the instant invention, traverse or master slide carriers have been secured to draperies in such a manner that when the operating cord of the device is pulled, the draperies will either be brought together to a closed position or separated to define an open position.

It is frequently desirable to operate one drapery independently of the other, for example, if light or air is to be admitted into one side of a window or doorway, or if privacy is required for a particular area, while admitting light to an adjacent area.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a master slide carrier construction for draperies wherein the draperies are automatically released from the operating cords and thereafter adapted to be moved independently one from the other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a master slide carrier for draperies which includes a clutch, the clutch being adapted to be automatically disengaged from the drapery operating cord to allow for the independent movement of the draperies.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery traverse rod construction which includes a pair of primary slides and a pair of secondary slides, each primary slide being associated with a secondary slide and responsive to the movement thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a traverse rod and master carrier apparatus wherein the operating portion of the cords for operating the master carriers may extend downwardly from either end of the traverse rod.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a rear perspective view of the traverse rod and master carrier construction embodied in the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in Fig. l as seen from the front of the traverse rod;

Fig. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view taken along line 5 5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a rear view in perspective of a primary slide showing a clutch element secured thereto;

Fig. 7 is a front view in perspective of another primary slide showing a clutch element secured thereto;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a secondary slide that is adapted to cooperate with the clutch element of the primary slides shown in Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational View of the master carriers as they are moved forward to a drapery closing position;

Fig. l0 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the primary slides in overlapping relation and the clutch elements at the position of disengagement from the secondary slides; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figs. 9 and 10 showing the independent movement of the primary slides after the clutch elements have been disengaged from the secondary slides.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, the drapery apparatus embodied in the present invention is illustrated and includes a drapery traverse rod generally indicated at iti. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the traverse rod 10, which may be of the telescoping type, has a generally C configuration defined by a top Wall 14, a front wall 16, a bottom wall 18, and spaced rear walls 20 and 22. The opening defined by the spaced rear walls 20, 22 enables an operating cord 24 to be inserted into the interior of thc rod 10 and further defines a trackway for receiving the drapery sliding elements, such as slides 26. The slides 26 are formed with depending eyelets which are adapted to receive drapery hooks therein, the slides 26 thus forming runners for sliding the hanging draperies to the open or closed position. Referring again to Fig. l, the traverse rod 10 is shown having secured to the outer ends thereof end brackets 28 which are identically formed and which have rotatably mounted therein a pair of operating cord pulleys 30, 32 (Figs. 1 and 3). Since the brackets are identically formed, the operating cord 24 may be interchanged in position so that the operator of the device may pull the cord from the left or right side according to the particular location of the draperies with relation to the area to be covered. To illustrate this feature more clearly, the traverse rod assembly is shown in Fig. l with the operating length of the cord 24 depending below the left-hand bracket 28 and thus the operator will pull the cord from that side to close or part the draperies. As shown, the operating cord 24 may be interchanged so that the operating length thereof depends from the right-hand bracket 28 and the operator will then operate the device from that side. It is apparent, of course, that in order to interchange the operating length of the cord 24, the master carriers must be released from engagement with the cord and the upper length of the cord may then be pulled to the new position. The carriers are thereafter locked to the cord in the new position.

The present invention is designed to allow an individual drapery to be manually moved independently from an adjacent drapery and for this purpose a novel master carrier assembly is provided. Master carriers are normally secured to the intermediate ends of the operating cord and will be caused to move along the traverse rod trackway in response to the movement of the cord by the operator, thereby carrying the drapery hook slides therewith. The draperies in these heretofore known devices are thus parted or brought to a closed position by movement of the master carriers along the traverse rod trackway. As shown more clearly in Fig. l, the present invention includes a pair of master carriers which comprise a pair of primary slides generally indicated at 40 and 42 and a pair of secondary slides 44 and 46, each secondary slide associated with a primary slidey and secured to a length of the operating lcord 24. It is seen that as the secondary slides 44, 46 are moved along the trackway of the traverse rod 12 in response to the movement of the operating cord, they will engage the associated primary slides 40, 42 thereby resulting in movement thereof. This operation will be more completely described hereinafter.

As shown in Fig. 6, the primary slide 40 includes a body defined by a vertical plate 48 to which a horizontal shelf 50 is integrally joined. Joined to the shelf 50 is a depending portion 52 which has an offset extension 54 integrally joined thereto. Slots 56 and holes 58 are formed in the depending portion 52 and associated extension 5.4 and are adapted to receive drapery hooks in the conventional manner. Riveted or boltedl to the vertical plate 48 at the end thereof are shoes or guides 59 which are formed in an H- configuration and are thus adapted to ride in the trackway defined by the spaced rear walls 20 and 22 of the traverse rod 12. See Fig. 5. It is seen, therefore, that the primary slide 40 is mounted on the traverse rod 12 for movement thereover, the guides 59 engaging the traverse rod trackway and providing for free movement thereon. Pivotally secured to vertical plate 48 of the primary slide 40 is a clutch member 60 which is formed with a rear portion 62 that receives a rivet or bolt (not shown) therein for pivotally joining the clutch member 60 to the vertical plate 48. The body of the clutch member 60 is offset from the rear portion 62 by a connecting portion 64 and is further formed with a notch defining a shoulder 68. The clutch member 60 terminates in a pointed end which is defined by a mitered or inclined edge 69. The clutch member 60 is prevented from falling below the position shown in Fig. 6 by a small ledge or stop 70 that is struck from the vertical wall 48 and turned 90 to a horizontal position, thereby defining a limit for downward movement of the clutch member 60. With the primary slide 40 in position on the traverse rod 12, the shelf 50 and extension S4 extend slightly below the lowermost end of the rod and locate the endmost portions of the associated drapery on the rearward side of the traverse rod in the conventional manner.

Referring now to Fig. 7, the primary slide 42 is illustrated and includes a vertical plate 72 that has integrally joined to the lowermost end thereof a horizontal shelf 74. Joined to the shelf 74 is a depending portion 76 that includes a forward extension 78, the extension 78 being offset with respect to the depending portion 76 by an intermediate portion 80 formed integral therewith. The extension 78 and depending portion 76 are also formed with holes 82 and slots 84 (Fig. 1) as described above in connection with primary slide 40, the holes 82 and slots 84 receiving drapery hooks therein in the conventional manner.

The shelf 74 of the primary slide 42 is somewhat wider than the shelf 50 described above in connection with the primary slide 40 and extends underneath the traverse rod 12 to position the depending portion 76 and extension 78 on the forward side of the traverse rod. The associated drapery is thus brought into overlapping engagement with the drapery carried by the primary slide 40 when the primary slides 40, 42 are moved to the center of the traverse rod, this arrangement being conventional in drapery assemblies. In order to slidably mount the primary slide 42 on the traverse rod 12, shoes or guides 86 are secured to the vertical wall 72, the guides 86 being identical to the guides 59. The guides 86 are formed in an H configuration for reception by the traverse rod trackway, and thus provide for free movement of the primary slide 42 therealong. Pivotally secured to the vertical plate 72 of the primary slide 42 is a 'clutch mem ber 88 that is similar to the clutch member 60. The clutch member 88 is formed with a rear portion 90 which receives a rivet or bolt 92 for pivotally securing the clutch member 88 to the vertical plate 72. Integrally joined to the rear portion 90 is a reduced portion 96 that defines a notch 98. The body of the clutch member 88 is tapered and extends to a point defined by a mitered or inclined edge 100. In order to prevent downward movement of the clutch member 88 when it is declutched from the secondary slide 46, a stop 101 is struck from the plate 72 and turned 90 to form a ledge for receiving the rear portion 90 of the clutch member 88. Associated With each of the primary slides 40, 42 are the secondary slides 44, 46, respectively. The secondary slides 44, 46 are substantially identical in construction and, as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 8, include a body 102 that is formed with opposed slots 104, 106 that are adapted to be slidably received by the trackway defined by the rear walls 20, 22 of the traverse rod 12. Integrally formed on the rearmost wall of the secondary slide body 102 is a rounded portion 108 that has an opening 110 formed therein, the opening 110 receiving the operating cord 24 therein. Extending through an opening 112 formed in the body 102 of the secondary slide and communicating with the openi-ng 110 is a set screw 114, the set screw 114 being adapted to secure the secondary slide to one length of the operating cord 24. It is understood, of course, that each of the secondary slides is secured to different lengths of the operating cord and thus will be adapted to move in opposite directions when the operator pulls an end of the cord. Extending outwardly from each secondary slide is a pin 116 that is adapted to coact with the notch formed in the clutch element of the master slide and thus is adapted to cause interconnection between the primary and secondary slides. As illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the secondary slides 44, 46 do differ slightly in construction, the pins 116 being positioned on opposite sides of the body 102, thereby allowing for coaction with the associated clutch member as described below.

Referring now to Figs. 9, l0 and ll, the operation of the apparatus is illustrated as follows:

The traverse rod 10 is mounted in the desired position and the operating length of the cord 24 is located either on the left or right-hand side of the rod, as desired. As shown in Fig. l, the operating length of the cord 24 extends through the traverse rod 10 and depends from the leftehand bracket 28. The drapery slides 26 and primary slides 40, 42 receive the drapery hooks in the appropriate openings formed therein and the draperies are thus adapted to close and part upon movement thereof. The primary slides 40, 42 in the present invention are free to move in the traverse rod trackway and are not secured to the cord 24 in any manner. This is distinct from the conventional system wherein the master carriers are directly :connected to the operating cord. The secondary slides 44, 46 are secured to the operating cord 24 and will thus move along the traverse rod trackway in response to movement of the cord. Assuming now that the draperies are parted, the secondary slides 44, 46 are then located in close association with the respective primary slide. As shown in Fig. 9, the primary slides 40 and 42 are actually locked to the secondary slides 44, 46 for inner movement therewith by means of the notches 68 and 98 formed on the clutch members 60 and 88, the notches engaging the pins 116 secured to the secondary slides 44, 46. It is seen that as the secondary slides 44, 46 are moved toward the center of the traverse rod in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 9) in response to movement of the operating cord, the primary slides 40, 42 are forced to move therewith through the interconnection of the clutch members 60 and 88 and the pins 116. As the primary slides 40, 42 approach the center of the traverse rod, the clutch members 60 and 88 overlap due to the offset construction of the clutch member 60. Further inward movement of the primary and secondary slides then causes the inclined edges 69 and 100 of the clutch members 60, 88, respectively, to contact the pins 116 extending from the secondary slides. As the innermost position of the primary and secondary slides is reached, as shown in Fig. 10, the clutch members 60 and 88 are pivotally raised over the pins 116 in response to the movement of the inclined edges 69 and 100. This pivotal movement acts to declutch the primary slides 40, 42 from the secondary slides 44, 46 and the primary slides are thus adapted to be moved freely along the traverse rod trackway in response to manual operation thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 1l, the clutch members 60 and 88 in the unclutched position are no longer in engagement with the secondary slides 44 and 46 and may be moved independently in the direction of the arrows. It is seen that since a drapery is connected t0 each primary slide and responsive to the movement thereof, an individual drapery may be manually opened while leaving the remaining drapery in the closed position.

With one or both draperies parted manually, if it is salame desired to operate the draperies by the operating cord 24, it is only necessary to move the secondary slides 44, 46 to the outermost position on the traverse rod until the clutch members 60 and 88 of the primary slides engage the pin 116 on the associated secondary slide. Movement of the secondary slides toward the center of the traverse rod will then move the primary slides 40, 42 and the draperies secured thereto in the manner described hereinabove. With the primary and secondary slides positioned together, movement of the draperies to an open position by operation of the cord 24 is effected since the secondary slides abut against the adjacent edge of the plates 48 and 72. Thus, it is seen that movement of the draperies to a closed position is accomplished due to the coaction between the clutch members 60, 88 and the pins 116 of the secondary slides. However, the clutch members are only responsive to movement in an inner direction and thus movement of the primary slides in an outwardly direction by operation of the cord 24 is effected by the abutting relation of the secondary slides against the edges of the plates 48 and 72 of the primary slides.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod, master carriers slidably mounted on said traverse rod and adapted to Ihave draperies secured thereto for movement therewith, said master carriers comprising a primary slide and a secondary slide, said primary slide freely movable on said traverse rod and said secondary slide secured to an operating cord and movable on said traverse rod in response to said operating cord, said primary slide being operatively connected to said secondary slide for movement therewith toward the center of said traverse rod, said secondary slide including means for disconnecting said primary and secondary slides at the closed position of said draperies, thereby providing for movement of said draperies independently of said cord.

2. In a drapery fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary slide includes a pivotally mounted clutch element, said clutch element operatively engaging said secondary slide for movement therewith toward the center of said rod.

3. In a drapery fixture as set forth in claim l, wherein said secondary slide positively abuts against said primary slide to cause outward movement thereof when said draperies are to be separated.

4. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod, master carriers slidably mounted on said traverse rod and adapted to have draperies secured thereto for movement therewith, said master carriers comprising a primary slide and a secondary slide, said primary and secondary slides being interconnected for movement toward the center of said traverse rod, each of said secondary slides including means for disconnecting said primary and secondary slides to provide for independent movement of said draperies.

5. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod, a cord, a secondary slide slidably mounted on said rod and connected to said cord, a primary slide mounted for free movement on said rod and having a drapery secured thereto, said primary slide being mounted independently of said secondary slide, said secondary slide including means for interconnecting said primary and secondary slides for moving said drapery to the center of said rod.

6. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod having an operating cord disposed therein, a first slide means slidably mounted on said rod having a drapery connected thereto for movement therewith, and a second slide means slidably mounted on said rod and onllid to said cord,

said first and second slides being independently mounted on said rod, said second slide means operatively engaging said first slide means and responsive to said cord to cause movement of said first slide means, thereby moving said drapery.

7. In a drapery fixture as set forth in claim 6, wherein said rst slide means includes means for locking said first slide means to said second slide means during movement thereof toward the center of said traverse rod.

8. In a drapery fixture as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second slide means has a pin secured thereto and said locking means includes a clutch member, said clutch member engaging said pin to lock said first and second slide means together during movement toward the center of said traverse rod.

9. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod having an operating cord disposed therein, a pair of primary slides mounted on said rod for longitudinal movement thereover, each of said primary slides having a drapery secured thereto for movement therewith, a pair of secondary slides mounted on said rod, each secondary slide secured to said cord and associated with a primary slide, said secondary slides moving in response to movement of said cord to move said primary slides along said traverse rod, thereby imparting movement to said draperies, said primary slides including a clutch member secured thereto, said clutch members engaging an adjacent secondary slide and locked thereto for movement therewith, said clutch members engaging an oppositely disposed secondary slide at the center of said traverse rod to unlock the adjacent secondary slide from the primary slide, said primary slides thereafter being free to move on said traverse rod independent of the operation of said cord.

10. In a drapery fixture as set forth in claim 9, wherein said clutch members are formed with an inclined edge, the inclined edge of said clutch members engaging a pin on the opposite secondary slide to unlock said primary slide from the adjacent secondary slide.

11. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod, a pair of primary slides mounted on said rod and having draperies secured thereto, a pair of secondary slides mounted on said rod independently of said primary slides, each of said secondary slides being adapted to engage a primary slide for causing movement thereof, and an operating cord secured to said secondary slides, said primary and secondary slides being normally connected for movement together thereby moving said draperies therewith, said secondary slides including means for disconnecting said primary slides therefrom, whereby said draperies may be manually and independently operated.

l2. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod, an operating cord associated with said traverse rod, a rst pair of slides mounted on said traverse rod having draperies secured thereto for movement therewith, each of said first slides including clutch means, a second pair of slides mounted on said rod and secured to said cord, each of said clutch means engaging one of said second slides and being responsive to movement thereof to cause movement of said first slides and said draperies, movement of said second slides substantially into engagement with each other causing each of said clutch means to engage the other of said second slides to move said clutch means out of engagement with the second slide to which it is engaged, whereby said first slides may be moved independently of said cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,845,949 Wittemann Feb. 16, 1932 1,855,037 Vroom Apr. 19, 1932 2,012,460 Vallen Aug. 27, 1935 2,564,995 Rakeman Aug. 21, 1951 2,713,898 Hartmann July 26, 1955 

